The case for Centres of Excellence in sustainable building design
The case for Centres of Excellence in sustainable building design
The case for Centres of Excellence in sustainable building design
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<strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong><br />
Germany has a much higher prevalence <strong>of</strong> science and eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
construction. Designers are much more demand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the per<strong>for</strong>mance<br />
<strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g components, such as facades, and so the <strong>in</strong>dustry responds by<br />
manufactur<strong>in</strong>g high-quality and reliable systems. Thus German manufactured<br />
facades are widely recognised as be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the highest quality and are there<strong>for</strong>e<br />
rout<strong>in</strong>ely specified <strong>for</strong> the most demand<strong>in</strong>g UK construction projects to the<br />
detriment <strong>of</strong> UK manufacturers and the balance <strong>of</strong> payments.<br />
By rais<strong>in</strong>g the level <strong>of</strong> scientific understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g per<strong>for</strong>mance across<br />
the construction <strong>in</strong>dustry we will be rais<strong>in</strong>g the demand <strong>for</strong> high-per<strong>for</strong>mance<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g components. UK manufacturers will be challenged by UK <strong>design</strong>ers to<br />
improve the per<strong>for</strong>mance <strong>of</strong> their products, which will make them competitive<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st similar European products. Further, by engender<strong>in</strong>g familiarity with<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g science, UK manufacturers will be able to effectively enter the European<br />
market and compete <strong>in</strong> a market where build<strong>in</strong>g science is demanded.<br />
<strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> may also benefit UK manufactur<strong>in</strong>g by focus<strong>in</strong>g<br />
construction ef<strong>for</strong>t on the passive <strong>design</strong> measures rather than on the adoption<br />
<strong>of</strong> microgeneration technology. <strong>The</strong> most popular <strong>for</strong>ms <strong>of</strong> micro-generation and<br />
low carbon technologies, such as photovoltaics and heat pumps, are typically<br />
manufactured <strong>in</strong> Asia, whereas low technology, passive energy-sav<strong>in</strong>g products<br />
such as <strong>in</strong>sulation tend to be manufactured <strong>in</strong> the country <strong>of</strong> use. <strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e,<br />
by <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g the ability <strong>of</strong> construction pr<strong>of</strong>essionals to utilise passive energy<br />
conservation we will <strong>in</strong>crease demand <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong>digenously manufactured products.<br />
While this study has evaluated the impact <strong>of</strong> graduates from <strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Excellence</strong> enter<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>dustry and thus directly mitigat<strong>in</strong>g carbon emissions<br />
through good <strong>design</strong>, it is <strong>in</strong>evitable that a number <strong>of</strong> graduates would rema<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> academia to further pursue research and to teach. Thus by establish<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
<strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> we can reasonably expect a better understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> low<br />
carbon <strong>design</strong> to permeate throughout other UK universities. As a result the<br />
numbers <strong>of</strong> carbon literate graduates will <strong>in</strong>crease beyond those tra<strong>in</strong>ed at the<br />
orig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> and the carbon abatement will escalate. A number<br />
<strong>of</strong> these graduates will become the tra<strong>in</strong>ers <strong>for</strong> the future generation <strong>of</strong> low<br />
carbon workers proposed under the Green Deal.<br />
Develop<strong>in</strong>g a body <strong>of</strong> articulate carbon literate researchers and graduates would<br />
also facilitate much broader engagement with the general public on matters<br />
<strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>ability. <strong>The</strong> media would have access to expert op<strong>in</strong>ion on matters <strong>of</strong><br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>design</strong> and so the public debate could be much better <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>med.<br />
It can be expected that personnel from the <strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> also to<br />
contribute to the ref<strong>in</strong>ement and implementation <strong>of</strong> policy <strong>for</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
development. By comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the rigour <strong>of</strong> academic research with the practical<br />
experience <strong>of</strong> successful strategies from the construction <strong>in</strong>dustry staff from the<br />
<strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> will be uniquely positioned to advise policymakers.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, UK universities are seen as highly desirable by overseas students. Overseas<br />
students tend to be self-fund<strong>in</strong>g, and so do not impose additional f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
burden on the UK economy, but they br<strong>in</strong>g substantial benefits. Many overseas<br />
students <strong>in</strong> eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g discipl<strong>in</strong>es rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> the UK, either enter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry or<br />
pursu<strong>in</strong>g academic research. Students from <strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> who return<br />
overseas to work <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry will take with them a significant level <strong>of</strong> expertise<br />
<strong>in</strong> low carbon <strong>design</strong> and construction which will achieve substantial carbon<br />
abatement <strong>in</strong> their theatre <strong>of</strong> work. Thus <strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> present a real<br />
opportunity <strong>for</strong> export<strong>in</strong>g UK expertise <strong>in</strong> carbon abatement to the benefit <strong>of</strong> the<br />
whole planet.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>case</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Centres</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Excellence</strong> <strong>in</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>design</strong> 35